What it's REALLY like when the menopause strikes when you are 36... by courageous Hollywood star NAOMI WATTS

It is perhaps surprising to learn that one of Hollywood actor Naomi Watts ' favourite old shows is Golden Girls, the sitcom about four older women who share a home in Miami. 'I always loved the idea of a group of older ladies coming together to live and support each other during the second phase of their lives,' she says. 'But what's so incredible is that the visual representation of these women is "little old grandmas". They're supposed to be in their 50s! I'm 55 now. 'Visually, I think midlife perceptions are changing. But also, we're living much longer now. We have a lot of life ahead of us after menopause. What a shame it would be to pack it in and ride off into the sunset in our 50s.' Times have changed, and for once it's in a good way. For far too long menopause has been a solitary journey and menopausal women perceived as end‑game ancients. Now, menopause is starting to represent a passionate, strong and ambitious global tribe, and a badge of honour, rather than a stain of shame requiring a spell in the ducking stool to eradicate.